Justice News

Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Firearm Charge

PROVIDENCE, RI –A 23-year-old Peabody, MA, man previously convicted in Rhode Island state court on multiple drug trafficking charges today was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Samuel Wango was arrested by Central Falls Police and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force during a Project Safe Neighborhoods drug trafficking investigation in February 2018. The investigation also resulted in the arrest of a Central Falls man on federal drug trafficking and firearm charges.

U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. also ordered Wango to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 46-57 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 41 months of incarceration.

Wango’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Central Falls Police Chief Colonel James J. Mendonca, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Harold H. Shaw.

In January 2018, the Central Falls Police Special Investigations Unit initiated an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking activities of Elton Andrade aka “MT Flex,”19, at his residence. The investigation allegedly included four controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Andrade.

On February 26, 2018, Central Falls Police and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Andrade’s residence. At that time, law enforcement encountered Wango, who was found to be carrying a loaded revolver and 133 grams of Inositol commonly used as a cutting agent for narcotics.

From Andrade’s bedroom, law enforcement allegedly seized two plastic baggies containing a total of 33.24 grams of crack cocaine, two stolen firearms, a .380 caliber and a .357 caliber handgun, and $1,503 in cash. Andrade is awaiting trial in federal court on charges of possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.